I Was Anastasia: A Novel

Is she or is she not? That is the question surrounding Anna Anderson who insists she survived the massacre of her family in the basement. She claims to be Anastasia Romanov, the Russian Grand Duchess. She bears an uncanny resemblance to her and has many scars on her body that she says prove her identity. Back then dna testing was not available to prove or disprove her story.Fascinating yet horrifying this historical suspense is based on research the author has done. Many scenes and wording of sentences are true to her research. The author has in her research sifted through 50 years of facts in this book with it's many twists and turns. Anna Anderson had a 50 year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov, survivor of the bloodshed that happened that night. Did she succeed and live a happy life? I know if I think she was the Grand Duchess, now what's your verdict?
Pub Date 27 Mar 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Doubleday Books through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own,

Anna Anderson has spent over fifty years of her life fighting to prove she is the Grand Duchess Anastasia. Her story begins near the end as she battles in court to get recognition. Anastasia is 18 months away from that fateful night in Yekaterinburg. Does she in fact survive?

I love the time line set up in this book. It is an amazing idea to have both women moving toward each other like trains on the same track. The moment they collide will be the moment we learn the truth. While I do not like Anna on a personal level, I appreciate how cunning, clever, and totally insane she is. She is one of most interesting characters I have ever read. I appreciate the amount of research that must have went into this novel. While it is a work of fiction, I bet that was a time consuming task.

The only criticism I can possibly have for this book is the very thing I like most: The Timeline. Some readers may find the nonlinear design difficult to follow.

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon is a work of historical fiction. It is the prefect marriage of creativity and intelligence. From her character development to the time line set up, it is an amazing piece of work. I Was Anastasia will be published March 27, 2018 by Doubleday Books.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating. It is by far the best book I have read this year. I would recommend it to any lover of the Romanov history or historical fiction lover. However, I do recommend doing some research first. I have a good deal of knowledge on the Romanovs and that improved my experience with this book.

This cover is gorgeous but that isn't even what attracted me to this book. It was Anastasia. I first fell in love with Anastasia when I saw the animated movie about her. I love reading anything about Anastasia and this historical fiction wasn't just intriguing, it was impossible to put down! There is, of course, some brutality when you read about what happened to the Romanov family. If you've never read anything about Anastasia I would highly recommend this book and then deep dive into historical fact.

This book follows the life of Anastasia in chronological order all the way from political undermining to the brutal end to the Romanov royal family and Anastasia's disappearance. The in reverse chronological order it follows Anna Anderson, the girl who claimed to be Anastasia all the way to her death and the struggles she endured. When the stories meet it is amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I Was Anastasia is the amazing story of Anna Anderson, a woman who claimed to be, Anastasia Romanov, the Grand Duchess of Russia, and the only family member to survive the Romanov massacre of 1918.

This book is riveting, absorbing, and disturbing. I was engrossed from the first page. The author’s writing is exquisite. Ariel Lawhon, cleverly, and meticulously, described the life of Anastasia Romanov and how Anna Anderson, struggled to prove to the world, that she was the Russian Grand Duchess.

I completely lost track of time while reading this amazing novel. It’s obvious that the author thought about each sentence in this book, choosing and placing each word carefully, for maximum effect. The author’s writing is so sharp and raw that the pages came alive for me. The only thing I had difficulty with was the frequent time changes, i.e., one month later, two weeks earlier, etc. The book tells the story of Anna Anderson/ Anastasia Romanov while in Russia, Germany, and America. It also describes some of the despair and pain she had endured as a homeless person on the run, as a prisoner, and as a patient in an insane asylum.

I was unaware of the Russian Romanov family history when I started this book, so it truly was an eye-opener for me. The book is fascinating, haunting, and unforgettable.

Thank you, Doubleday Books and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy.

As readers move through the novel, they may feel torn -- longing for the tragedy that befalls Anastasia and her family to not happen and an urgency for Anna’s lie to be put to bed and end quickly. This dissonance doesn’t play well and causes the novel to drag most of its 300 pages especially during Anna’s chapters which come across as brash and uncaring until the start of her story is reached.

Anna is a miserable woman. She is scarred, lost, depressed and damaged in more ways than one. Is she who she says she is? She claims to be Anastasia Romanov. Is she? You need to read this to find out!

I love the history of this book. It has been a while since I visited with the Romanovs. This was a highlight for me but, parts of this novel are so hard to read. The tragedy surrounding the Romanovs’ lives and their deaths are heart wrenching.

The only reason this is not getting five stars from me is because of the time line. It is non linear. This made the story more confusing but, that was the brilliant plan of the author. To keep you off balance, which you will realize when you get to the end of the book. Their is a reason she wants you off balance.

All in all, I enjoyed this book very much. Anna, the Romanovs, and the history really create a wonderful tale.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

The story of whether Anna Anderson was actually Anastasia Romanov has fascinated me since I was young. When discoveries were made relevant to this story, I followed them closely. Naturally, I was very excited to read I Was Anastasia, and I knew how the book would turn out (I am choosing my wording carefully because I do not want to spoil the ending for those unfamiliar with the tale). While I enjoyed the book, I had significant trouble following the story as it unfolded in I Was Anastasia. Lawhon chose to tell Anastasia’s story chronologically and Anna’s backwards through time making it very hard at times to understand where I was in the story. I also felt it could have been edited down a bit more.

I Was Anastasia is clearly a labor of love for Ariel Lawhon, and her research and effort show through in her retelling of Anna Anderson and Anastasia Romanov’s stories. Thanks to Doubleday for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was Anastasia was the kind of book I immediately wanted to start over once I finished it. The structure didn't make sense to me until the very end, which made me question my interpretation throughout. Despite the frequently confusing nonlinear timeline, the story drew me in and kept me captivated until the end. Before picking up, I Was Anastasia, the totality of my understanding of the Romanov family came from my reading of Robert Alexander's The Kitchen Boy: A Novel of the Last Tsar (another great book!). I was unaware of the role Anna Anderson played in history, which placed me squarely in the "hope for a happy ending" camp. Rather than skip to the end or read the author's note, I turned to Wikipedia three-quarters of the way into the book! The ending was brilliant, and as I said in my opening line, it made me want to go back and read from the beginning. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Author's Note.

Bravo, Ariel Lawhon and thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. (less)

Anna Anderson was rescued from a canal in Germany in 1920 after a suicide attempt. She believes herself to be the daughter of Nicholas and Alexandra Romanov, that is Anastasia. The novel follows her as struggles to get the relatives to believe. Anastasia’s scars on her body are “proof”that she somehow survived the shooting of her family. Her childhood friend believes her to be Anastasia. He assists her. She gets many people to believe her as Anastasia. I won’t spoil the book for you and let you, the reader, discover the ending.

This remarkable novel is told in reverse. It starts out in 1970 in Charlottesville, Virginia where she is awaiting to hear from a German court’s decision on who she is. Is she Anastasia? There is an interesting author’s note at the end of the book. Do read it. I recommend the book as I was totally involved in the story as it seemed so real.

I have read many books over the years about was or was not the women called Anna Anderson really Anastasia Romanov. It has been proven beyond doubt with DNA that she was not. The thing I find fascinating is that she fooled a lot people for nearly 50 years. I would like a book that gives some theories as to how she did it and why. What was Anna Anderson’s motive, and who fed her the family information that she appeared to know? But, I was still pulled into reading another book about her. I had no problem with the jumping timeline that the author used to tell the story. The characters are well defined and written. Being that it is an historical novel, the scrambling of facts can be forgiven. That is what is done in historical novels. All in all I enjoyed the book and thought the author did a good job retelling this sad story.

As far as my experience with Ms. Lawhon goes, she is great with historical fiction. She can take an interesting thread from history and turn it into this carefully woven, beautiful story that you won't want to put down. This is definitely true of I Was Anastasia.
One of the most amazing things she does is weaves two stories together in this crazy way but rarely are you ever lost or confused. In this book you have two stories, Anna's and Anastasia's. Anna's story is told in reverse while Anastasia's is toward going forward so that the stories run parallel until they crash into each other at the exact same moment in the past.
There were a few times in this story that I skimmed because it was just too much info that seemed unnecessary but overall, I was totally invested in Anna's journey.

Since the brutal killing of the Romanov family in 1918, the question of whether the youngest daughter might have survived has lingered. Ariel Lawhon has given the woman who claimed to be Anastasia Romanov a name and a face in this fictional account of what might have happened.

The story that Lawhon spins that touches on a fictional Anastasia is gripping. Anna’s story, less so.

DNA testing in the 1990s proved conclusively that no member of the Romanov family survived.

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon is a novel based on the historical figure of Anastasia Romanov. It is a fascinating read! Readers who love this story and the possibility of Anastasia living through the nightmare that killed her family. The author makes a richly detailed story that is filled with events that could have taken place. The story is told through two story lines-- in the past and one more current. I recommend this novel but gave it three stars because I think the two storylines became a little difficult to follow and keep straight at times. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free ebook to read and review prior to publication.

This is probably a 3.5/5 star read for me. This book took me FOREVER to read. I think part of it was that it was an ebook (and I'm clearly not good at reading those) and partially because I was having a hard time getting into it. The book goes chronologically during Anastasia's point of view chapters and reverse-chronologically when telling Anna's story. I think was the only real way to tell the story but it did make it a bit confusing for me.

Honestly though, I'm SO glad I stuck with it. I read the last half of the book three times as fast as I read the first half because I got hooked and the ending was PERFECT.

In July 1918, after months of imprisonment Anastasia Romanov, along with the rest of the Imperial family and a few servants, were led to a damp basement where they faced a merciless firing squad. The executioners claimed no one survived. In 1917, a young woman is pulled from a canal in Germany. Freezing and senseless, she is taken to a hospital and it is discovered that she is covered in horrific scars. This mystery woman eventually claims to be Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. She goes by the name Anna Andersen. Despite having an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia as well as a doubt of inside knowledge of the royal family, many do not believe this claim. In I WAS ANASTASIA, the reader is given insight into the battles that Anna experiences as she tries to claim the name of Anastasia Romanov. Once the rumors begin to circulate that the youngest Romanov did in fact survive that fateful night, old and new enemies begin to appear willing to go great lengths to make sure Anastasia Romanov stays silent.

I can’t remember when my fascination with the Romanov family began but I have a feeling it goes back to my childhood when I saw the animated movie “Anastasia”. I seriously loved that movie. The thought that this girl could actually be a princess without even knowing it was so enchanting. Of course, now as an adult, I understand the incredibly sad tragedy that befell the Romanov family. The story is truly fascinating to me and the fact that they thought Anastasia may have escaped on that fateful night added an element of mystery and hope that people could build on.

I Was Anastasia was such an amazing read for me. The story is told from a backwards timeline. The story begins in 1970 and goes all the way back to 1917. We get to see the hard fought battles of Anna Andersen as she tries to claim her true identity in the court room and with the remaining Romanov family members. Anna has very few people in her corner as most believe that she is an imposter. The point of view alternates between Anna’s battles to reclaim her identity and the terrifying experiences Anastasia Romanov had as her family is imprisoned and eventually sentenced to death. I found the latter POV to be extremely fascinating since the author wrote it as a first person account of Anastasia. Of course the author took liberties with some of these historical events (she mentions this at the end of the book) and she turns it into a gripping tale. Even though the author added elements to the story, the timeline and most of the events remain true to the historical facts, which I definitely appreciated.

I WAS ANASTASIA is one of my favorite reads for 2018. I love a good historical fiction novel but I love it even more when it’s based on true events like this book. I would recommend this book to any historical fiction lover. I don’t think you need to know much about the Romanov family to enjoy this book.

Imagine a lost princess. She’s far from home, her true identity unknown or unrecognized, and she’s desperate to convince others of her identity so she can claim her rightful inheritance. It sounds like a fairy tale, and that might be one reason why the story of Anastasia Romanov, the lost Grand Duchess of Russia, continues to fascinate more than a century after the Russian Imperial family was assassinated by Bolshevik revolutionaries in the summer of 1917.

In her third novel, Ariel Lawhon imagines the life of 17-year-old Anastasia in the year-and-a-half following her father Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication, when she and her family were imprisoned, first in their palace outside of St. Petersburg and later in Siberia and Ekaterinburg. Meanwhile, a parallel narrative tackles the thorny mystery of Anna Anderson, the woman who appeared in a Berlin mental hospital in 1920 claiming to be Anastasia. Soviet misinformation about what had really happened to the family and the fact that no bodies were recovered until decades later made her claim at least somewhat plausible.

I WAS ANASTASIA’s dual stories move forward and backward in time to converge in July 1918. (Lawhon has some compelling reasons for choosing this inventive and risky structure, which she outlines in a lengthy author’s note at the end of the book.) When the novel opens, Anderson is living in Virginia, married to a professor, and still asserting her claim to her royal title. Methodically, Lawhon moves back through the years, as Anderson bounces between Europe and America, relying on the kindness or credulity of Romanov relatives and sympathizers who support her claim.

It’s a sprawling, complex tale, told from the point of view of one who is unwilling to reveal all her secrets to a skeptical world. Anderson is stubbornly poker-faced throughout. Yes, she carries a few Romanov family tokens with her, and her body is riddled with mysterious scars. But when pressed with specific questions, she won’t (or can’t) provide the information that would verify her claim. People either choose to believe her or they don’t, and their decision is usually based more on their own motivations and personal history as it is on cold hard facts, of which there are remarkably few. In fact, such is Lawhon’s skill as a writer that even readers familiar with Anderson’s story will be willing to believe that it could be heading in a different direction.

The uncertainty about Anderson’s real identity gives the book its narrative urgency. When will we find out who she really is? But it creates a problem as well. Since we can’t know for sure if Anderson truly is Anastasia Romanov or “the thief of another woman’s legacy,” it’s nearly impossible to understand her motivations. If she is the true Anastasia, her determined quest to be recognized for the woman she really is makes sense. But if she is an imposter, what’s driven her to pretend she’s the missing grand duchess?

Lawhon gets to the answer eventually, scattering clues throughout that hint at Anderson’s real identity before revealing the truth in the book’s final pages. But the why of her actions remains oblique, despite a brief epilogue that attempts to tie things together in a neat bow.

While Anna Anderson remains a cipher throughout I WAS ANASTASIA, Anastasia Romanov springs to life, full of energy and teenage spirit, even as the only world she has ever known collapses around her. The result is a vivid portrait of Romanov family life, with many elements drawn straight from the historical record, and of a young woman growing up in almost unimaginable circumstances. From the moment we meet Anastasia, as she reassures her sickly younger brother Alexey as the rebel army encircles their home, we know the Romanov family story is hurtling toward a grisly conclusion. That looming tragedy makes the vivid details Lawhon includes, like the taste of a summer pear from the Tsar’s garden or the feeling of Anastasia’s first kiss (with one of her captors, no less), especially poignant.

Ultimately, Lawhon suggests, the world’s fascination with Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson is rooted in our “irrational hope and…willing suspension of disbelief,” part of a desire to believe the impossible and give an innocent young woman a chance at the life she never had. The tale Lawhon spins instead is one of two women, one moving toward unspeakable tragedy and the other recovering from it. It might not be a happy story, but it is a fascinating one.

Reviewed by Megan Elliott

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon achieves quite a feat-taking a subject about which there is no longer any mystery and making it mysterious. Thanks to DNA testing, it is now known that Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia died with the rest of her family in the summer of 1918, slaughtered by the Communists in the basement of a house in the town of Ekaterinburg. But, for decades afterwards a woman called Anna Anderson claimed to be Anastasia, saying she was saved by a soldier and escaped the USSR. It was sensational news right up until the time of her death. Lawhon makes no pretense of writing a what-if novel, but neither does she dwell on who Anna really was. Instead, using history, research and the same charisma and mystery that Anna herself exuded, she writes an entire novel that beckons and seduces.

Lawhon pitches the last months of Anastasia's life against Anna's years-from 1918 to 1970. Told in bits and pieces, the timelines in I Was Anastasia jump and skip like oil in a hot pan and just as randomly. There are scenes at the Ritz-Carlton in Manhattan in the late 1920s, back to an insane asylum not even a decade earlier. She rises, falls, and rises again, always dependent on who is supporting her cause at the time. Her benefactors range from a 60-year-old NYC heiress to a German baron to an American history professor (whom she married).

For as far and wide as Anna's life spreads, Anastasia's grows ever smaller as she and her family are moved from a palace to a government official's house to a simple home. Everything, from food, their staff, and even their movements is restricted. If, like me, you find the Romanov children to be a source of endless fascination-so beautiful but doomed-then I Was Anastasia is mesmerizing. It may only cover a year, but Lawhon is expansive in sharing those months of the family's lives, from Anastasia's perspective. There is little to none of the exorbitant lifestyle of a royal family, but rather the insidious decline from riches and admiration to deprivation and denigration. Lawhon brings to life aspects of Anastasia's final months that I had not known about and they lend even more sympathy to a group of young women who went from being feted and admired, almost revered, to vulnerable girls at the mercy of men who hated everything about them and reveled in degrading them.

As I mentioned, the timeline in I Was Anastasia is anything but linear. It is off-putting, to a degree, but may be deliberate on Lawhon's part-to reinforce the sense of fracture in Anna's life. The crux of her story is her quest to be acknowledged as the only remaining heir of Tsar Nicholas. For many this is seen as a journey of avarice, because if she is Anastasia she is the beneficiary to a fortune being held in an British bank, but Anna is not focused on that. Rather, Lawhon portrays her as a woman in search of identity and, in doing so, gives the novel a welcome depth beyond Anna as fortune hunter. It is one more positive aspect to a novel of so much history and, despite the known outcome, so well done. If you are a fan of Russian history then I Was Anastasia is catnip, but even if you know nothing about the Romanovs, this is intriguing reading.

I feel like my memory needs to be defragged after reading this book. This was a very muddy novel and I struggled to finish it but nevertheless, I persisted because I.am.not.a.quitter. Also, I, of course, wanted the answer to the question of her true identity! Romanova's story is told in chronological order and Anderson's backwards, which I found utterly confusing. I find the subject fascinating but wish I had read the author's note first, contrary to her advice. In it (and this is not a spoiler), she states that she intended it to by like the movie Memento. I did not like that movie at all so that probably explains why this book was not an enjoyable read for me.

A mysterious twist on a old tale. Thru the story you are presented with facts and details to determine if she Anne is really Anastasia Romanov. You hear of her family being captured, tourtured and their demise as the family is gunned down and stabbed after a death sentence. You also see how Anne continues on and the things she goes thru to make others believe she is who she claims to be. Follow this story and see what you believe. Is she or is she not Anastasia?

I have always had a keen curiosity about the mystery of what really happened to the royal Russian family. When I saw this book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it as soon as possible
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The author had an interesting take on the way she wrote the timeline of the book and how she started from the beginning story of Anastasia and the ending of Anna Anderson, the alleged Anastasia, and made them meet in the middle. At first I did not like it, but as I got further into the book, I really began to find value in the two timelines starting at opposite ends and meeting in the middle. It gave a different perspective that you do not normally find in novels.
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Yes, this is a work of historical fiction. However, I really enjoyed how well the author weaved and twisted the nonfiction with the fiction to make us question and ponder about what could have truly happened on that fateful night. It is one thing, in my opinion, that makes for a phenomenal piece of historical fiction and Ariel Lawhon succeeded greatly.
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Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end of the book. It will give even more depth and value to the pages before it.

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhorn has some brilliantly written chapters while some chapters a bit lacking. What I found most lacking was how the book jumped around between time periods. It would have been far better if the author had written the book in a chronological order. Instead the chapters jump back and forth between time periods making the storyline a bit hard to follow.

I really enjoyed reading the chapters that focused on the royal family and how they lived. The time period would have been in the early 1900s.

Recommend with caveats given.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.

At the end of her life Anna Anderson tells the story of her battle to be recognized as Grand Duchess Anastasia. Told backwards in time, each chapter unravels and illuminates her story a little more. Told forward in time, is Anastasia's imprisonment and the events leading up to her alleged death.

I've always found Anna Anderson's story to be fascinating, and this book was no exception. It was well written and engaging and kept me at the edge of my seat. I didn't particularly enjoy the backwards in time element, but I understand why the author did it. Overall, highly recommended.

I was offered an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a Romanov fanatic so I had to read this. The story of Anna Anderson has always intrigued me. I remember my mother being fascinated by the press when Anna passed away in the 80s. I felt oddly disjointed throughout the entire book. The writing was wonderful and the research that went into the book was abundant on every page. It wasn't until the end, when I read the author's note, that I loved it! This book isn't meant to be an easy read because it isn't an easy topic. A classic battle of searching for redemption of a tragedy by believing that which the facts won't support.

I Was Anastasia

This will probably make my favorite's list for the year. I'm still thinking about this story. I do want to give a warning if you are a sensitive reader. There are several grisly scenes. The story telling was a little hard to adjust too. There are two story lines one of which is told in reverse. It's fascinating how it comes together in the end, but it can be a little confusing. The story is amazing though. The building tension made me so nervous. I can't stop thinking about it.
I received a copy for review from Netgalley.

My daughter went through a movie phase where she wanted to watch Anastasia multiple times every week. I knew the basic story of this Russian princess, but this novel takes it further. Anastasia spends her whole life trying to prove she is who she says she is. At first, I thought the book's format was going to drive me crazy. It jumps around in time from Anastasia's early days with her family, to an elderly woman still fighting for her identity, and all stages in between. I ended up liking the way this made my mind work though.

Fascinating historical fiction novel about Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be lost princess. Was she the Romanov duchess and heir to the last czar's fortune or was she a world-class actress playing a deadly game? An interesting factor in this book was the two different timelines and how they were laid out, Anastasia's starts with the revolution in Russia and proceeds chronologically while Anna's starts in 1970 and is told in reverse. It takes a little getting used to but it's worth it. The story is rich with detailed descriptions of the fall of Czar Nicholas and his family and their subsequent captivity but also Anna's 50 year fight to be recognized as the Grand Duchess Anastasia. Although modern science has given us the definitive answer to the question of who Anna Anderson was or wasn't, this story was an incredible look into one of the most complex puzzles in history.

Told from two different perspectives this historical fiction has a “is she, isn’t she” component that makes it fascinating. The first perspective is narrated by the older Anna in reverse chronological order while the second narrator is the young Grand Duchess Anastasia told chronologically forward. Is Anna the Grand Duchess Anastasia and if not, why would someone be an impostor? In the end, the two stories come together, finally giving you the truth. This is perfect for adults who loved the animated Anastasia movie when they were younger.

This book was amazing. I was tentative going in about how the author would handle the story, especially since generally I have had a poor opinion of Anna Anderson since I have learned about her. I do not take her fraud and defamation of Anastasia Romanov lightly, especially since the poor Grand Duchess was murdered so brutally. Don't ask me why I'm so protective of that. I am a huge Romanov fanatic, especially when it comes to the story and legend of Anastasia. Like other reviewers, I knew both Anna Anderson and Anastasia's stories very well. I knew the outcome and the irrefutable DNA evidence. But Lawhon wrote the story in such a brilliant way, even I was doubting my convictions several times throughout the book. I was completely engaged and curious about how Anna came to be so accepted as Anastasia and how their two stories paralleled. The author clearly did her research and anticipated her audience's reactions, and wrote in such a way as to engage and pull them into the mystery of Anna Anderson. I also appreciate the mostly-historical accuracy (the author admits in the Author's Note that she took some liberties, and I appreciate this confession as well). I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Romanov history or anyone interested in a good mystery. Really well-written.

I have been fascinated by the story of Anastasia Romanov for a long, long time. This book fed that interest and enhanced it a bit through Lawhon's brilliant imaginings. While the timeline within the story took a little bit to get used to (don't skip the chapter headings in this one), as the book progressed, it soon became clear why the story is told as it is. I loved being immersed in the richness of this story.

I have always been interested in the story of Anastasia Romanov and her family. Over the years there have been many rumors that Anastasia survived. Is Anna really Anastasia? I really enjoyed this book. I did have a bit of trouble reading it though as Anna's part of the story reads from the present backwards. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Doubleday Books. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t read many books about the Romanov's, so I was thrilled to be able to receive a copy of this book from Netgalley! Thank you so much, Netgalley! This is a great book about Anastasia. Could it have possibly happened this way? Maybe! Read the book and see what you think. I enjoyed this book very much and I highly recommend it to Historical Fiction fans.
All opinions are my own.

I’ve always wanted to learn more about Anastasia and the Romanovs, so I thought I’d really be into this book. It took me until about 2/3 in to get used to the unusual timeline. It’s two time frames heading towards each other to meet in the middle. In her notes at the end of the book, even the author admits it can be daunting to some readers. If you can get past that and stick with it, you will see why it was written in such a way. It was hard knowing how the real story ended in such a sad way and I just kept wishing somehow the story had turned out differently for their family. In other random notes:
-I worried about the dogs too much.
-“Heels” is spelled “heals” several times.
- Based on her 1901 birthdate, I think Anastasia’s age is mentioned throughout the book incorrectly based on the dates given at the start of each chapter.

The constant shifting in the timeline of the story confused me at times. Anna’s timeline is all over the place and I would have preferred to have hers go chronologically like Anastasia’s.

I really liked Anastasia’s POV but couldn’t get into Anna’s.

This book re-sparked my interest in the Romanovs and now I need to go read some NF books about them.

Lawson has written a unique historical novel. Who would NOT want to believe that somehow Anastasia Romanov managed to survive the slaughter of her family at the hands of the Bolsheviks? I was happily drawn into this world! The only reason I gave the book four stars is because it jumps back-and-forth in time and I sometimes found it hard to follow! Beautifully written and entirely believable!

I have had a lifelong fascination with Anastasia Romanov and being half Russian always added to my interest. I think I have read almost every book ever written about the Romanov family both fiction and non fiction. I have always preferred fiction to fact anyway. When I first heard of Anna Anderson the romantic that I am really believed she was Anastasia and when DNA tests proved otherwise I was disappointed. But of all the things I have read this novel is by far the best. Five stars is not enough. I can not say too much because I do not want to spoil it for you. I want you to read it!

The backwards spooling chronology was a bit confusing, especially with the alternating POVs, so you really have to pay attention to the current character and timeframe. That said, the zinger of an ending made up for a lot. This is one I'd happily recommend.

*ARC via netgalley*

I have not read this yet, but find it odd that the picture on the cover is the same as the one on the cover of You Were There Before My Eyes which is by a different author. One is a close up of the body. Is this common? I’ve never seen this before.

This was a good read. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but still an interesting story. Without ruining it, the final conclusion was a bit difficult. As the author said, fairy tale endings are rarely going to happen.

When beautiful writing and skilled storytelling combine, you have a little bit of magic in the palm of your hands. I loved this book, was fascinated by the mystery, and more than once lingered over passages that were so lovely, they begged to be reread and savored. Add this one to your spring reading pile. You won't be sorry!

I have always been fascinated with the Romanovs assassination and Anastasia's story so I was excited to read I Was Anastasia. Wow. What a ride! Forward and backward in time, this book had me in it's spell to the very last page!

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in late March.

Oof, very long - this is the third-person story of Anna (possibly a Polish woman named Franziska Schanzkowska) in the 1960s and 1970s, who is declared to be Duchess Anastasia Romanov by a descendant of Grigori Rasputin. It's interspliced in a loose timeline style with first-person narration of situations and events during the Russian Revolution in the 1910s (which, when compared to Anna's story, is much more interesting) and Anna filing to be legally recognized as Anastasia, as well as proving herself (with a fair amount of annoyance, rage, and frustration) through questionnaire, interviews, handwriting analysis to disputing historians, biographers, and European/Russian dignitaries.

I previously have read many books that followed a nonlinear plot structure, jumping back and forth in time, and even among different characters, but I had trouble following this plot. It was not just because different chapters flashed back, but many chapters that began with a particular event jumped backward (2 weeks earlier, etc.) twice within the same chapter. I thought that the story could have been told more clearly using a different plot structure.

It was like trying to put together an historical puzzle. Hoping it was Anastasia all along, coming to discover it a was not was a bit of a disappointment. Following the trials and travails of Anna made for an intriguing read. You could not help but root for her as she went through such trying times.

Even though I knew the outcome of the story before I even started, this is an excellent read. The non-linear timeline works so well in keeping the reader curious and hungry for the next page. I spent a couple of late nights with this one, and that is a big sacrifice for me. If you like history...